SteelSeries Alias Pro Review: A Newbie-Friendly XLR Microphone and Interface Leave a comment

For streamers, podcasters, and mainly anybody who desires to upgrade their audio with no full studio backing them, the alternatives are to make use of a easy USB microphone that sounds OK or improve to a full XLR-based setup. The latter is what most professionals use and may ship higher-quality audio. The SteelSeries Alias Pro is the perfect try but to separate the distinction.

SteelSeries, the corporate that has impressed us with a number of high-quality gaming headsets, has entered the gaming microphone market with the Alias and Alias Professional. The previous is a USB microphone that comes with a shock mount and RGB LEDs, nevertheless it’s the Alias Professional that turns heads probably the most. The microphone inside is much like the bottom Alias mannequin, nevertheless it makes use of an XLR connection and comes with a dead-simple audio interface.

Progressive Interface

The audio interface is likely one of the extra cumbersome hurdles to recover from when studying improve audio recording gear. Almost each different kind of gadget on earth can join on to a pc, however skilled microphones nonetheless require this further field that simply sits on a desk. What does it do? Why do I would like it? How do I get the precise one? Cannot I simply use a USB mic?

There are plenty of difficult solutions to those questions, and we have defined them a bit more in-depth in the past, however somewhat than reply them, the Alias Professional sidesteps them. The field comes with an XLR microphone and an interface—dubbed the Stream Mixer—in the identical bundle. When you do not wish to hassle studying why an interface is vital or what variety you want, you do not have to fret about it. Simply plug the whole lot in and it will work. When you determine you wish to improve the Stream Mixer interface later, you may swap one other in and nonetheless use the identical Alias Professional mic (or you may swap out the mic for an additional). It is identical to some other professional setup.

For avid gamers and streamers, the audio interface is price maintaining round. It isn’t too difficult to make use of in comparison with most different interfaces. There are two dials—one for microphone achieve and one for pc quantity (you may customise them)—and two buttons. The buttons mute both the microphone or pc audio and lightweight up whereas muted, so you may by no means surprise if somebody can really hear you whereas on a stream. The bodily controls are simpler to observe and regulate whereas reside and the LEDs even make for a greater aesthetic in case your desk house is continuously on digicam.

Streamlining Streaming

The interface comes with +48V phantom energy—a function {most professional} mics have to get a usable audio sign, together with the Alias Professional—and a built-in preamp. If you do not know what these phrases imply and actually do not wish to get slowed down within the particulars, then the Alias Professional interface is perhaps interesting to you. It makes XLR assist as plug-and-play as it could possibly get.

In contrast to most audio interfaces, the phantom energy on the Stream Mixer would not have a {hardware} button you may activate or off. That is a function professionals may want—like in the event you’re swapping to a microphone that does not require phantom energy—however for most individuals, you both want it on or you do not (and you’ll configure this within the Engine part of the SteelSeries GG app). A devoted button for that is a kind of options that does not make sense to commit room to for streamers.